Arizona grieves together

Now, all of Arizona has a common bond with that rural community about 80 miles northwest of Phoenix. The nation does, too.

Now, we all grieve for the 19 young firefighters who died Sunday battling the Yarnell Hill Fire.

There is something ennobling about sharing that pain, and something utterly unfair about the event that caused it.

For the families and loved ones of those who died, nothing will ever be the same. That's a hard reality even strangers wish they could erase.

There is a shared dignity in that compassion. But it all comes down to something so personal. You hear it over and over: There are no words. There is no right thing to say.

The flags at half-staff are an official symbol of respect. The flag above the archway of fire ladders that honored the arrival of white vans to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office was a special tribute from fellow officers. The flags held by individuals who stood in the hot sun as those vans passed by were a personal message.

This all feels very personal.

The dead were vital, healthy young people - the kind who take on the riskiest jobs. There's a special kind of sting when death overcomes that youthful faith in tomorrow.

"Unbearable," is how Gov. Jan Brewer characterized the tragedy that claimed the lives of more firefighters than any event since Sept. 11, 2001.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, 22 people have died fighting wildland fires in Arizona's history - until Sunday. In one fiery sweep, that number nearly doubled.

Those who died were part of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, based at the Prescott Fire Department. They were dedicated, well-trained, experienced professionals.

"Something tragically took place that only Mother Nature may be able to explain," Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo said.

He stressed that an investigation will search for the answers. Knowing why these firefighters died may save other lives.

The tragedy claimed all but one member of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. As the magnitude of the tragedy became known, Fraijo met with the families.

They prayed, he said. They talked about the counseling and other services available.

"For the most part," he said, "we grieved together."

The shared grief spread statewide as white vans carrying remains arrived in Phoenix. It was reflected in the color guard that greeted the fallen. It endured with the promise that someone would remain on watch there.

It should be accompanied by hope for the hundreds of other brave young people who continue to battle the Yarnell Hill Fire. They remain in harm's way, as Brewer said.

Our collective grief also should be anchored in the continued realization that first responders risk their lives for us every day.

Donations to the families of the fallen are a good way to honor their sacrifice and to show respect for those who remain ready to answer the call of an emergency. They can be made through the Red Cross, the 100 Club of Arizona or the United Phoenix Firefighters, among others.

Fraijo explained how it works for firefighters. "The grief is going to take place, but the services continue," he said. "Once the alarm goes off, they are there and they are fully engaged."